Slicer having a tensioned wire cutting element



SLICER HAVING A TENSIONED WIRE CUTTING ELEMENT Filed March 23; 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g Alf/ea Richard Deedman /0 William 6. Lambrou INVENTOR5 9 BY Wm WW Em Jan. 17, 1956 A. R. DEEDMAN ETAL 3 5 SLICER HAVING A TENSIQNED WIRE CUTTING ELEMENT Filed March 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 luuuuuma Alf ed Richard Deedm on William 6. Lam brou INVENTORS BY QM (yaw 19m United States Patent '0 SLICER HAVING A TENSIONED wmr:

CUTTING ELEMENT a 6 Alfred Richard Deedman and William G. Lambrou,

Canton, Ohio Application March 23, 1954,,Serial No. 418,679 3 Claims. (Cl. 30-414) This inventioncomprises novel and useful improvements in a slicer and more specifically pertains to an apparatus for slicing cakes or pies into segments in an imapparatus in conformity with the above mentioned objects wherein the article to be sliced shall be carried upon a rotatable table together with indexing means for positioning the table in predetermined positionswith respect to the slicing element. i

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a slicing device in accordance withthe above mentioned objects which shall include an improved means for guiding the severing element of the, device and for applying adjustable tension thereto. A final important object of the invention is to provide a severing device in accordance with the preceding objects together with an improved coveringfor the same.

These together with other objects and advantageswhich will become subsequentlyapparent. reside in. the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: i

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view, parts being =r broken away, of an apparatus in accordance with. the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectionalflview taken substantially upon the plane indicated bythe section line 2-2 of Figure l, the severing means being shown int its vertical position in full lines and in an intermediate position in dotted lines therein; A

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view taken upon-'an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the manner in which the severing element of the device is resiliently attached to the base of the device;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device Showing the manner in which an article is sliced thereby; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cover for enclosing the device when the latter is not in use.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the device includes a flat plate-like base 10 which is preferably of circular shape, and which is provided with a central drum-shaped raised flange 12 having a top wall support, as will be best apparent from Figure 5.

2,730,801 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 ice 14. This top wall 14 together with its supporting flanged rim 12 constitutes a table support upon which is rotatably received a table indicated generally by the numeral 16 and which includes the circular top wall 18 and an annular skirt or rim 20. The table is adapted to be rotatably received upon and embrace the table support, with the top wall 18 resting upon the top wall 14 of the support and with the rim 20 slidably, embracing and being guidingly mounted upon the table support wall 12, as shown clearly in Figure 2.

The table 16 constitutes a support for an article, such as a cake 22, which isto be sliced or severed by the apparatus, and an indexing means is provided for positioning the table in rotationally adjusted selected positions. Thus, the wall12 of the table support is provided with an inwardly extending tubular boss 24 in which is secured in any suitable manner, a cup-shaped sleeve 26 which is provided with a detent ball 28 yieldingly urged outwardly of the sleeve, as by a compression spring 30. The rim 20 of the table is provided with a plurality of outwardly directed protuberances forming pockets 32, see also Figure 1, which are adapted to selectively register with the detent 28 in rotationally adjusted positions of the table 16. Thus, any suitable number of the pockets 32 being provided, the table may be yieldingly maintained by the detent ball 28 in various selected rotationally adjusted positions with respect to the base and the table support.

An arcuate guide 34 in the form of a semi-circular metallic band is mounted upon and rigidly, secured to the base 10 as by flanges 36 at the ends of the guide which are welded or otherwise firmly connected'with the base, the band being disposed diametrically on, the circular base and extending above the table and the table The guide 34 is provided with an arcuate slot 38 which extends from one end of the guide at the horizontal level of the top of the table support to a position directly abov the center of the table and of thebase.

The severing element of the device consists of a tensioned wire 40, having one end anchored below the center of the table support and having its other end fixed to a handle which is slidably retained in the guide 34.

Referring now to Figure 4, itjwill be apparent that the central portion of the top wall 14 of the base is provided with acentral aperture 42, and the central portion of the rotatable table 16 in its top wall 18 is also provided with anaperture 44 for registering with the in aligned apertures 48 in apairof brackets 50 which depend from the wall 14. The apertures 48 are.vertically elongated to permit a limited vertical movement of .theanchor pin and consequently of the end of the cutting wire 40 secured thereto. A compression spring 52 surrounding the wire 40 has its opposite ends abutting against the top wall 14 and the pin 46 to yieldingly urge the latter downwardly towards the lower end of the elongated slots 48, thereby applying a tension to the cutting wire 40 but being sufliciently yieldable to permit upward movement of this wire as set forth hereinafter.

As shown best in Figure 2, the upper end of this wire is secured to a transverse supporting pin 54 between a pair of bifurcations 56 formed on the lower end of a bolt-like member 58. The latter forms part of an actuating handle, indicated generally by the numeral 60 by which the wire is pivoted about its lower end. The handle further includes an outer sleeve member 62 in which the member 58 is received, the upper end of the pin 58 being externally threaded, as at 64, to receive a tensioning nut 66 thereon, which nut, in turn, has

vertically 6f :the sleeve by means dfthe' slot 70, out

prevents relat-ive rotation i'o'f' th'e member 58 with respectto -the sleeve. Thus, uponeotating the ca 68, the

' 'nut will be tig'litened 'while' the member sswill-eesheld against rotation, thereby causingldxialinovement ='of-the member ss'to thns adjusrthe tensionifi'g on the wine- 40. A compressien spring n surrounds fhddflfllllbfir 58 and has its lewerend abuttin agains a flang'e or 1 abutment surface '74 -member s its upper end bears against tlied'rlut 66. Thus, by rotitting the inember' fis, the-spring '7z 'niay :ne adjusta'bly doifipfe'ssed thereby va r-ying tension applied to tlie ciitting wire '40. p

' #As it-willnnw apparenL the wire'=40--'is tens'ioned between 1112: fixe'd s rin 52 at its lower end and the adjustable sp'rin'g 72 at its upper end. By this arrangewent, the wire-"can be I moved downwardly by 'sliding the bandle' '60 to' the lower end d f tlie-islot itl, into "the dotted line position indicated at 7"6 in Figure 2. In -?this ;position, the wire will lay flat upon'the top surface of the top wall '18 of the t'able and a e'a'ke or othe'nnrtiole =22 to be-sli'ced maybe pla thereon andee'iiteled-upon the table. Wlie'n t'he ="wire -is n'ow moved upwardly, as shown indotted lines as at 78 in PigiireZ, it -will sever the article uritil when moved in its upper-most position as shownin full J lines "in -'Fi'gur'e 2, -"a cut will be made through the center of the aiticle. If it'is-de'sired to divide- 'the article in halfj-the table 1'8, -with the cutting wire *inz'the "vertical position" shown int-he 'full Y linesin Figure 2 in'ay be rotated throug'h -l' 80 and -again resiliently retained im adjustedipositionfand the wir'e ithen moved dow'nwardly in are'verse direction, thus -c'ompleting the dividing f th'e 'ca'ke' alongits diameter. Ob-

intervals, corresponding 'to the circumferential spacing of the locking pockets 32, the cake' or other article may be severed into P segments o'f' 'any desired size.

-eil'lployed. This eover has a rirn which will surround the -same, an establish "a retainer"tdltdldithehaifille in its vertical "position.

Frem the "fore'goirigy-the eon'st'ru'ctio'n min operation "of the "device will be'relfdil'yunderstood andTlirther 'X- ,lplanationis believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications'and equivalents may be resorted lto,. .falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Whatl' isclaimeflasanew is as follows: i 1. A slicer forp'ies andeakes'eomprising a base having a raised table support, a table having a depending skirt and a raised centralportionlrotatably mounted upon said table support and adapted to receive an object to be sliced, an arcuate-bridge mounted on said {base and overlying said table, acutting wire, means for resiliently mounting one end of said wire upon said base, a handle attached to the other end of said wire and slidably mounted upon said bridge whereby said wire may 'be moved amiately fin-vertical planes inom-rheriznmal to vertical positions for 'slicing articles earned by isaid table, said table *skitt laud -l'able suppoft having index means ifor curing said table in rotationally adjusted position upon said sltp'poi't. Y

:Aslieer-tor pie's and 'cakes eomprising a base ihavin; a table' support, -a" table rotatably mounted upon said table support and adaptedtoreceive an object :to be sliced, an ar'cuate bridge 'mounted on said base and-overlying f 's'aid table, a cutting wire, me'ans -for mounting one end of said wire upon said base, a handle attached to dle otlier' endof "said -wire arid slidably-mounted upon sa'id brid'ge wherehysaid w i're may be tnoved areuately in vertical 'planes :rronr liorizontal :to vertical positions for slicing ait tioIes eaI'ried by said table, I a resilient rn'eans yie'ldingly -ur gi11g said -ha'ndle away from said "mounting means whereby to tension said wire, means 0n said handle"for"varying -the' tension of said resilient means on said wire.

slieer Ior -pies'and' cakes comprising a base having a rable support, a table rotatably mounted upon said table support and adapted to receive an object'to be "sliced, an amide 'brid'ge mounted on said base and "overlying'said table, a cutting wire, means for mountin' one end of I said wire upon "said base, a*handle atta'ched to theothe'r endof said' wire' and slidably mounted up'o'n said bridge wherebysaidwire may be moved ar'cuately in verti'cal 'planes-from horizontal to vertical positions for sliding articles 'ea'rried by said table, said mounting means having a-a"resilient connection between said wire 3nd base, a resil'i'ent means =yielding'ly urging said handle away from said mounting means where'by to tension said 'w'ire, means *on said handle for varying the tension of' 'said resilient means on said =wire.

V merereueeecned immanent this :patent 'iUNI ED'srATEs PATENTS Taylor Oct. 27, 1953 

